Dispenser



Loctl 24, 1944. G s. UGHT 2,361,111'

DISPENSER I Filed oct. 10, 1940 z'sneets-sneet 1 lNvEN-roR l v '21 5v-(Z. IHHHI... llw'- I BY ATTORNEY Oct. 24, 1944. Q s LIGHT 2,361,111

DISPENSER Filed Oct. 10, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR George S.

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 24, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPENSER l George S. Light, Winsted, 'onn. v Application-October I0, 1940, Serial No. 360,597

is experienced in dispensing' the pins in such a marmer that personalinjury to workers may be avoided and in such a manner that a great deal of Wastage does not occur.

For lack of other dispensing means the garment manufacturing industry has been compelled to dispense pins in trays or boxes, the pins being' more or less lumped together and not in any prearranged vpositions Whatever. who use the pins are compelled to insert their hands within the trays or boxes to pick up one orseveral pinsat a time with the result that frequent iniuries occur, particularly `to the 1ing'ertips of the workers. j

- Furthermore, under present manufacturing methods, considerable wastage of pins resultsfrom the attempts of the Workers to meet production line speeds, it being .impossible `for a worker to grasp one pi-n `at a time from a large mass of -pins and at they same time attain the required speed of production. Consequently various habits vare formed such as withdrawing .a handful of pins from the bulk mass and spreading them upon the work table 4in order to facilitate selecting one -pin ata time. According to common practice', shirts are pinned in certain places and'passed' along a table .to another Worker who inserts more pins in the garment, and as a result of this a considerable number of the pins which have ybeen spread on lthe Work table Yare brushed alongth'e table until they ultimately fall on the floor or through cracks "in the table. Althoughit is possible to recoversuch wasted pins, they are not usable for the reason that they become dirty 4or mixed with thread fragments or other foreign material.

' `Similar difculties arise'n other industries This pinning procedure presents problems' for tlfiey reason that pin manufacturers packageA this type of pin in bulk whereby great diilicultyv Thus the Workers' 8 Claims. (Cl. 312f73) dispensers where hand nailing is practiced, and therefore this invention is equally applicable where it is desirable to dispense nails 'of 4any size -since they are in general of the same coniiguration as common pins.

Accordingly, the principal object of this invention is to provide a novell -device for dispensing pins or other fastening devices of similar configuration which eliminates personal injury to the user, Waste of such devices, and loss of time lin obtaining such devices for use.

another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser for delivering pins or other fasteners of similar conguration'in such a manner that they may be grasped safely and in a. uniform manner.

Still another objectof the invention is to provide a -pin dispenser which `prevents access of dirt or other foreign matter to the pins and at the same time delivers the pins to a tray at a desired rate with. predetermined relation to the user and to each other.

An additional object is to provide a dispenser for the purpose of dispensing fasteners such as pins or nails or any other form of fastener which comprises an elongated body portion and an enlarged head.

A further object is to y.provide a dispenser which is capable of dispensing and delivering fasteners of the type known as the common pin.

A still further obj-ect Yis to provide a dispensing device for delivering com-mon pins or any other form of fastener having an elongated bodyv portion and a-n enlarged head at `a predetermined rate and 'in Va .predetermined relation to one another. ,i

A11 additional lobject is to provide va ypin'd-ispensing device receiving pins in bul-k form, separating them, and delivering them to a tray -at a slow rate with the heads pointing "uniformly in 'a single direction.

`Still another `object is Vto kprovide .a -.pin dispenser of simple mechanical design with as few moving parts as possible.

Further object and advantages of the invention will be `apparent from consideration of the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of a pin dispenser constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view looking at the top of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side View of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side view of a modification of the invention;

Fig. 5 illustrates a modification of a delivery trough attached to the dispenser illustrated in` Fig.1; and

Fig. 6 is a side as that disclosed in Fig. 5.

The preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings and com- View of the same delivery trough it is also possible to utilize any form of base material covered with, for example, varnish which has been mixed with cotton fibers, rubber paint, canvas, or a layer of rubber. It is also possible to use a sand casting leaving the surface in the rough condition as it is taken from the mold, or steel having very fine grooves embossed-therein- Any other surface having a slight amount of roughness or frictional characteristics such as those of the materials mentioned above can be used for this purpose. The apron is preferably slightly concave, to obviate the necessity of accurate leveling, and cut at its lower end I6 at a considerable angle, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, whereby deliverychute I2 is sloped. The delivery chute I2 lmay beintegral with the apron I0 or separately formed as an extension plate having a lip and attached tothe apron as prises a tray or hopper I for receiving pins or other fasteners of similar configuration-in bulk or an otherwise distributed mass, having a cover 2, a substantially rigid and vibration-transmitting standard 5 attached to a base portion 1, and a spaced apron I0 with a trough I2 attached thereto. The standard may be non-rigid if preferred. The hopper is preferably constructed of a metallic material of such thickness that the bottom portion 3 may vibrate in a manner somewhat similar to a diaphragm, the purpose of which is to impart a dancing motion tothe pins contained in the hopper. The rear portion 4 of the hopper is secured to the standard 5 by means of any suitable securing means such as the bolt or screw 6.

It is preferable that this fastening means ,be capable of providing or allowing motion of the hopper about its longitudinal axis whereby it m'ay be leveled regardless of the level of the supporting means. v 4.

The bottom portion 3 of the hopper is closed at the forward end but is spaced from the rear portion II to allow the `pins contained in the hopper to drop upon the apron I0.-.This form of construction also causes the bottom to vibrate at greater amplitude at the point where the pins are -about to drop to the apron. v'

The apron I0 isv hinged to the standard 5 by means of the hinge II and is supported at the front end by the chain I3 which is made up of ball-like links attached to one another by straight rod-like links whereby the chain may be pulled through the circular aperture I4 until the apron IIl is in the desired sloping position, whereupon chain I3 may be inserted in slot I5 to retain apron III in fixed relation to the hopper. Other forms of adjustment may be used such as, for example, a screw connecting the vhopper and apron. It is to be noted that apron I0 is spaced from bottom 3 of the hopper, the intervening space allowing the pins to separate from one another as they fall, whereby intermingled masses of pins do not collect on the apron. i i

Apron I0 is preferably constructed of a material such as pressed wood which has a roughened surface or a surface of considerable friction resulting from the fact that the wood fibers are somewhat separated from one another. This is an important feature of the invention as the friction causes a drag on the elongated portion of a pin while the weight of its head causes `a rolling motion until the pin `lies with its head facing down the slope of the apron? Thus, all p-ins assume a uniformi direction. It is not necessary that the `surface be made ofl the above material as illustrated in the drawings. It is formed to comprise two surfaces, (l) which is parallel to that Avof, the apron, and (2) which follows the arc of a circle tangent to the rst surface portion. Thus as a pin slides down the surface of the apron, the head thereof is deflected by the curved portion of the chute, causing the pin to execute a turn into the chutev in a predetermined position vor direction. All pins execute the same motion and are rtherefore arranged in the chute 4with the heads pointing erable that the bottom of the chute be slanted downwardly but it may be horizontal, as l,will be described in connection with Fig. 5. The delivery chute or trough I2 may be elongated lnany desired manner to facilitate the delivery of pins.

. The base portion 1, .of the supporting structure is provided with a leveling device- 8 which may be in the form'of a screwA and locknut as illustratedin Fig. l. i Thus the device may be mounted upon a supporting, table Vor bench and ad- A justed by means of screwl to such a point that A the bottom of the hopper IV is level and then the base 1 may be securely fastened to the supporting table.. f

To operate the dispenser a tangled mass of pins is placed in the hopper Ijand delivery of pins occurs as a result of vibration of the hopper. The hopper may be vibrated by intermittently tapping it or the trough I2 which transmits vibra.- tions through the standard 5 and chain I3; As it l frequently happens that the tabler or Vother support on which the dispenser is fastened is; caused. to vibrate by machine operation within the roomy or building in which the table islocated, manual striking of the hopper or trough may not be necessary. Hopper I may also be vibrated by'operating switchv'2'I, to energize solenoid 25,

through battery 28 and cause striker 26 to tap the hopper. Vibrations, initiated bystriker 26, or transmitted by the standard 5 or chain I3,`will cause the hopper and apron to vibrate in a substantially vertical plane, andthe bottom of the hopper vibrates vertically at a comparatively high frequency 4with the greaterv amplitude near the hopper opening. When the'tangled mass of pins.

is placed in the hopper I, it is preferable that the larger proportion of the. ,pinsrest atthe front ofthe hopper and only a ,small portion; rof the pins lie` at the hopper opening. Consequently when thehopper is vibrated, thegreater amplitude of vibration near the hopper opening separates the pins lying-at this point and they are jiggled or bounced from the main massof. pins, and dropped UDCH the apron Ill being separated even more during the drop.

ina uniform direction. It is pref- The .vibrationsy of the, bottom. of.; thehopper `vl reins 0.1 smaller. amplitu'de under the large mass of pins, they are moved slowly, but as yeach individual opening, the amplitudel of greater: and therefore speed of delivery is greater as the pin vapproaches the hopper opening. Thus. the large mass ofpins is slowly separated but preventedfrom -moving steadily toward the hopper opening and a few pins at a time are jiggled or bounced until they drop to apron Il). f `I-he' frictional sloping surface of the apron l0 drags on ythe elongated shanks of thev pins vand causes themtof roll into a head-down position after-which they slide down the apron until they reach its edge, whereupon the slope of the trough causes the heads of all the pins to move along the trough facing in the same relative direction. Vibration of apron Illis not necessary as it may be sloped until gravity causes the pins to slide. Thus the dispenser may be vibrated either mechanically or as a result of machine operation or by the operator striking the trough, and pins are delivered head foremost at any desired speed as determined by the amount of vibration and the adjustment of the chain which adjusts the slope of the apron.

It will be obvious that the dispenser will operate in the same fashion where it is desired to deliver other forms of fasteners such as nails of various sizes. If necessary, certain character-4 istics of the dispenser may be varied slightly to facilitate delivery of a particular size of nail.

Fig. 4 of the drawings illustrates another modification of the invention wherein the hopper l is reversed with respect to the apron IB. The dispenser is constructed in this manner if space facilities so require in the particular location in which the dispenser is to be used. This modica tion may be further changed by eliminating the space between the bottom 3 of the hopper l and the apron I0.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a modified form of delivery trough 20, which is horizontal instead of sloping as illustrated in the preferred modification. This particular form of construction may be desirable Where it is necessary to prevent pins from falling out of the trough as sometimes happens'in the case of a sloping trough.

Various modifications of the apron l0 are pos,- sible. It may be constructed with a slight convex surface or a perfectly flat surface. These alternatives may be adopted if manufacturing methods or costs so require.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that further modications are possible, and therefore it is desired that' the invention shall be limited only by the appended claims and as required by prior art.

I claim:

1. A dispensing device comprising a base, a vertical standard attached thereto and so formed as to sustain vibratory motion, a hopper pivotally supported on the standard for receiving a mass of pins, an opening in the bottom of said hopper whereby vibratory motion of the standard and hopper will cause the contents of said hopper to drop through said opening, a sloping vibratory apron hinged to the standard in spaced relation to the bottom of said hopper for receiving said pins, a roughened surface on said apron for creating a drag on the shanks of the pins whereby they are caused to assume a position as they slide along the apron, a sloping delivery chute cornprising an extension plate having an upturned lip attached to the lower edge of the apron, for deflecting and delivering the pins and causing apron for spacing said ing said contents,

' lecting said contents and ingthe free eendfof said apron below said hopper; 2. Av Vdispensing device" comprising a base, a

f standard attached thereto `and so formed as to' a lhopper supported on thev cause the contents of saidv hopper to drop through saidslot, a'sloping apron, a hinge' supported by the standard and connected to said'. apron below the bottom ofV surface on said lapron for certain parts` of the pins said hopper, a rough creating a drag on whereby they are caused to assume `a given along th'ei apron, a delivery.

position 'as they slide chute comprising an-'ex-tension plate having' anz upturned lip attached to the lower edge of the apron for deiiecting pins and causing them to assume a given position or direction and means connected between said apron and said hopper for adjusting the slope of said apron.

3. A dispensing device comprising a base, a standard on said base so formed as to sustain vibratory motion, 'a hopper supported on the standard, an opening in the rear, lower portion of said hopper whereby a certain degree of vibra'- tory motion of the hopper will cause the contents of said hopper to drop through said opening at a certain rate, a sloping apron supported on the device in spaced relation to the bottom of said hopper and under said opening for receiving said contents and a continuous rough surface on said apron for creating a drag on certain parts of the individual articles comprising said contentsA whereby each of said articles is caused to face.

' in a given direction as it slides along the apron..

4. A dispensing device comprising a base, a. standard on said base so formed as to sustain vibratory motion, a hopper supported on thel standard, an opening in the rear, lower portion of said hopper whereby a certain degree of vibratory motion of the'hopper will cause the contents of said hopper to drop throughsaid open-v ing at a certain rate, a sloping apron supported on the device in spaced relation to the bottom of said hopper and under said opening for receiva continuous rough surface on said apron for creating a drag on certain parts of the individual articles comprising said contents whereby each of said articles is caused to face in a given direction as it slides along the apron, a trough attached to the apron for colmeans for adjustably supportingsaid apron.

5. A dispensing device comprising a Vibratable table support so formed as to sustain vibratory motion, a vibratable hopper on said support for receiving and discharging pins, an opening in A the bottom of said hopper whereby vibratory motion of the hopper will cause the contents of said hopper to drop through said opening and an apron having an upper, concave, continuous, frictional., inclined surface supported on the device under said opening for intercepting the pins from the hopper and creating a drag on certain parts of individual pins whereby they are caused to assume a given position as they slide along the apron. y

6. A dispensing device comprising a support, a flexible standard, means for securing said standard to said support, vibratable means on said standard for receiving and discharging pins,

a sloping apron supported on the standard underY them to assume such a positionfthat theheadsy face in a given directionl and means for support-f hopper whereby vibrationsl transmitted by the standard tothe hopper willv said vibratable means for a frictional surface on said apron for creating a drag on certain partsof the pins whereby theyare caused to assume a given position Aas* they slide along the apron, ing an extension vplatre attached' to: the lower, collecting thevpins and means adjacent said vibratable means for vibrating it.

having an upturned lip I '1. In combination, a support, a iiexible'stand ard, ,means for securing said standard to said support, a vibratable hopper for, receiving pins comprising a box intercepting the pins,-

a delivery chute comprise.

edge offthey apron, for.

of the bottom to ad- 'ported on the standard Vance pins toward the slot at .an increasingratey and separate thepins adjacent the slotand asloping means vcomprising a rough surface sup. under said hopper for de- 1 livering thevpins asthey drop through said slot.

8.'.In combination, means for discharging pins,

arictional, inclined conveying means an angleA to the sidesthereof, a delivery chute comprising an extension plate having a turneduplip and attached to said lower edge ,whereby pins sliding along said conveying means are de- ,flected uniformly thereby and assume a uniform position and a iixible standard for supporting said discharging and conveying means.

` GEORGE S. LIGHT.

under saidv discharging meanszfor intercepting the pins, the' lowerl edge of said conveying `means describing'- 

